Mishnah Avot 1:3
אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אִישׁ סוֹכוֹ קִבֵּל מִשִּׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אַל תִּהְיוּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, אֶלָּא הֱווּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב שֶׁלֹּא עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, וִיהִי מוֹרָא שָׁמַיִם עֲלֵיכֶם:
Antiginos of Socho received [a teaching] from Shimon haTzadik (the Righteous). He used to say: Do not be like a servant who serves their master in order to receive a reward, rather, be like a servant who serves their master without [doing so] in order to receive a reward. And you should be one who fears heaven.
Does our motivation to do something matter?
This is the question that this Mishnah attempts to answer. Antiginos of Socho in the name of Shimon haTzadik says yes: motivation matters. In fact, we should do things without an expectation of reward. Simple, right?
Let’s dig into the metaphor here: the rabbis of the Mishnaic period lived in an era when slavery and indentured servitude were the norm. It doesn’t make it ok, but that is a part of their historical context and understanding of the world. Servants who have masters.
The Hebrew here, that I’ve translated for the master is הָרַב HaRav, which we usually translate as the rabbi but could be more understood as “the boss.” Part of that translation is because the Hebrew word for servant here, כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין ka’avadim ham’sham’shin is really a compound understanding of two words.
The first word would be translated, in isolation, as like the slaves/servants. The second word would be translated, in isolation, as those who administer service. Together, they are those who provide assistant service.
But, if we dig into the metaphor, there are two categories here: the servant who serves for reward and the servant who serves without reward. We have to then ask, is this reward a wage? No, this is not referring to a wage, which is a different word altogether, שכר schar.
So how do we understand this? What is this reward then?
Perhaps we can think of it this way, adjusting for our modern understanding of relationships: we might imagine, a boss and an administrative assistant, perhaps. That administrator might be doing the work because it is their role or because they expect some form of additional treatment or benefit.
So, under that circumstance, should we expect a reward?
I think that what we’re learning here is that we should show up and do our best, on any given day, without the expectation that we’re going to get some form of bonus. That by being present and paying attention, learning as we go, the rewards will be emergent rather than expected.
As this is a metaphor for our relationship with God, we have to reconsider the players of the story. If we’re the serving individual and God is the boss, what does that mean?
I think there are two core takeaways.
1. We have a role and we have to do our part.
2. We should do it because it is important, not because God will give us a benefit.
It is our job to continue to make our world a more just and kind place. Not because God is going to give us some reward, but because it is our role.
Judaism in general is focused on what we are doing now, on Earth, at this moment, rather than some potential reward.
We have work to do now, here.